Members of the European Parliament condemn Serbia’s “slave” working conditions – EURACTIV.com

A group of members of the European Parliament angered the Belgrade authorities after calling on them to end “modern slavery” in Serbia. The alleged victim was a Vietnamese worker employed by a Chinese company in a candidate country for the EU.

A-11 “Economic and Social Rights Initiative” reportThe Serbian NGO stated that about 500 Vietnamese workers arrived in Zrenjanin in March, April and May this year. The poor working conditions they reported, including lack of labor rights and respect for local employment laws, led to severe criticism, which the Serbian government said was nothing more than a personal attack on the country.

Member of the European Parliament Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens/EFA, Germany), Gwendolyne Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA, France), Tineke Strik (Geens/EFA, Netherlands), Toniono Picula (S&D, Croatia), Klemen Grošelj ( Update, Slovenia)), Irena Ioveva (Renew, Slovenia) and Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA, Austria) statement They were “shocked by Serbia’s recent allegations of human trafficking” and called on “Serbian authorities to take immediate action.”

These workers were brought from Vietnam through an agency that charged workers between US$2,200 and US$4,000 for services, including transportation, visas and accommodation. Allegedly, these workers were subsequently hired by China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd. The agreement did not include the start date and “cash on hand” payment.

According to the report, the working day is a nine-hour shift, and the cost of personal protective equipment is deducted from their wages. In addition, workers must work 26 days a month, but if they do not complete it, they will lose their entire month’s wages. In addition, if they are late for work, they may lose a full day’s wages.

Workers are also required to hand over their passports and question whether they have residence and work permits.

In terms of their accommodation, the report found that they lived in a barracks with bunk beds in the room, which was overcrowded. These beds have no mattresses, but thin quilts covered with wooden boards. In addition, there are only two toilets that can be used by 500 workers, the sewer system is incomplete, there is persistent gas odor, and many abandoned and unsafe gas cylinders.

The NGO also stated that there is no electricity or drinking water, no heating, and cold water must be used for bathing and washing clothes.

According to reports, from the perspective of the COVID-19 virus, the health of workers is also threatened. They wanted to be vaccinated, but according to reports, when they contacted the company authorities, they were told that it was complicated and they could not get the vaccine.

MEP von Cramon-Taubadel wrote on her website On Friday (November 19), “an aspiring EU member state tolerates the construction and maintenance of a factory, which is reportedly used for human trafficking and exploitation on its territory, which is totally unacceptable”.

“The Serbian government’s silence on this type of forced labor means that they are complicit in modern slavery,” she continued.

Members of the European Parliament urge the Serbian authorities, the Ministry of Labour and the Labour Inspectorate, the Ministry of the Interior and the Office of Anti-Trafficking Coordination, and the Office of the Prosecutor to respond immediately to these flagrant violations of workers’ rights and human dignity. nation.

“Serbia must prove that it belongs to the European family of countries by promoting high standards of human rights and workers’ rights, including through thorough due diligence on Chinese investment in the country and through the enforcement of labor and environmental standards,” writes von Cramon-Taubadel .

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic reacted angrily, assessing Viola von Kramon’s allegations of “modern slavery” and “human trafficking for labor exploitation” as “a crime against Serbia” Carry out another attempt by Satan”.

In a Twitter post on the ministry’s account, the minister said, “After a media article about the position of a Vietnamese worker in a factory in Serbia, the country’s top officials and competent authorities made an urgent response”, “the result proves that the facts It has little to do with the image created by an orderly and coordinated political propaganda attack on Serbia.”

On Saturday, the Serbian Foreign Minister accused von Kramon-Taubadr of launching a “radical anti-Serbia and anti-China agenda, which has nothing to do with the concern for human rights.”

The Serbian official tone evoked a strong reaction from von Kramon-Tabadel.

“I can’t take this leadership seriously anymore. A proper government will not apologize to Vietnamese workers for inhumane conditions, but will take responsibility for it, and they will defend human trafficking and modern slavery by accusing me. Catch Opportunity,” von Cramon-Taubadel wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

[Edited by Alice Taylor]